Guyana has strong support – VP Jagdeo assures amid Venezuela’s aggression

Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has assured that Guyana has strong support in its fight against Venezuela’s attempts to escalate tensions between the two countries.

He reminded that actions by the Spanish-speaking nation are not only contrary to provisional rulings of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding Guyana’s international boundary but also the Argyle Declaration signed by the two countries in December 2023 to maintain peace in the region.

“We will continue with all of our partners, we have strong support from the United States government, from the UK government, from the French government, everyone and more importantly from CARICOM,” Jagdeo said during his weekly press conference.

“Venezuela is in a weak position,” he added.

The Vice President also responded to comments made by Venezuelan officials, referring to President Dr Irfaan Ali as President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He said such utterances are “childish” and will not have the sway they are expecting.

“The infantile rant by several top officials in Venezuela by calling President Ali, Zelensky, I think it is somehow in their warp framework of analysis, they think if they’re to do that, somehow it will change the US longstanding support for Guyana in the border issue,” he noted.

Venezuela’s latest act of aggression occurred on March 01, 2025, when a Venezuelan naval vessel entered Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and communicated with Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) operating on oil blocks offshore.

Additionally, that country has announced plans to hold an election in Essequibo – Guyana’s territory – on May 25, 2025.

In response, Guyana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has filed in the Registry of the ICJ a Request for the indication of provisional measures in the case concerning Arbitral Award of 3 October 1899 (Guyana v. Venezuela). Guyana is asking the court to order Venezuela to refrain from any acts within or affecting its sovereign territory, including the Essequibo region.

Guyana informed the Court that the planned Venezuelan elections would inevitably be preceded by preparatory acts, including acts within Guyana’s Essequibo region, affecting the Guyanese population and Guyana’s sovereignty over its territory.

This is the second time Guyana has sought provisional measures from the Court.

Guyana further requested the Court to convene hearings on its request as soon as possible, to enable such provisional measures as might be indicated by the Court to be issued before serious and irremediable prejudice to Guyana’s rights occurs.